The territory roughly embraced in Moore, Lee and Chatham Counties, contains a larger variety of minerals than any other territory in the North Carolina. These minerals, while of a wide variety, do not exist in large quantities, nor are they generally of sufficient value to make their mining profitable; however, recent efforts have been made to exploit coal deposits along Deep River. In 1858 legislative aid was given to explore the fields and determine the best outlets for getting the coal to market. Various entities have tried water transport and railroad, but various accidents over time have prevented this coal field from being profitable.